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Better Marriages is a network of couples working for better marriages. Better Marriages promotes growth in marriage – offering opportunities for couples to build on their strengths and to equip them with skills and resources that will help them develop more satisfying relationships. The mission of Better Marriages is to promote enrichment opportunities and resources that strengthen couple relationships and enhance personal growth, mutual fulfillment and family wellness. (www.bettermarriages.org)

* Better Marriages is a non-profit, non-sectarian organization whose purpose is to promote better marriages. Their programs are educational in nature and are not intended as therapy or counseling.

What is a Marriage Enrichment Couple’s Retreat? A weekend away designed to help couples improve their relationship and to increase their love and intimacy in order to achieve truly happy marriages

Who should participate in a weekend retreat? Retreats are for committed couples who are interested in increasing their love and intimacy in order to reach more of their potential in marriage. Retreats are not a substitute for marital therapy and are not intended for deeply troubled marriages, although it is recognized that all marriages have some problems.

Retreat Format: In our retreats there are usually 4 to 6 participating couples with ourselves and sometimes an additional leader couple. The format consists of a series of exercises designed to stimulate sharing between partners. The leader couple demonstrates the process and then couples dialogue privately about the topic. There follows an opportunity for voluntary sharing in the larger group which promotes learning from each other and about the common nature of couple relationships. Leader couples share their own marriage rather than lecture, analyze or confront couples.

Retreat Logistics: Retreats are held at the Fairfield’s vacation home in Berkeley Springs, WV, a two hour drive from the Washington beltway. Each couple has their own bedroom. Retreats begin at 5:00 PM Friday afternoon and end at 3:00PM Sunday. Cost is $250 per couple plus one prepared meal for the group. A non-refundable deposit of $50 is needed to reserve a place on the weekend.

For further information, call or write:

Barbara and Don Fairfield

8403 Margo Road

Lanham, Maryland 20706

301-552-4330

*protected email*

The Leaders: Barbara and Don Fairfield and Rachael and Olivier Fleurence are certified leader couples trained by Better Marriages. Barbara and Don have been leading retreats for more than 20 years and are designated as Marriage Enrichment Specialists by better Marriages.